Simple black pepper is a staple in any kitchen, but if you want to really spice up your food, a good pepper blend will serve you well in just about any dish. You can buy pepper blends at the grocery store, but often those blends contain fillers designed to look pretty, not taste good. CHOW has the solution: make your own blend.

The blend described in the video above is pretty simple: three tablespoons black peppercorns, two tablespoons white peppercorns, and one tablespoon allspice berries. Mix them by hand until they're even, then load them into your pepper mill or grinder. That's all there is to it, and your dishes—not to mention your taste buds—will thank you.

You're not going to replace black pepper entirely with this. A pepper blend is really for use when seasoning dishes while cooking or adding flavor to prepared ones, not as a replacement in recipes that specifically call for black pepper. Plus, if you've been spending money on a pepper mix, you can even save some cash by making your own at home.